Romans 13:8
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
When was the last time you heard someone say that Christians live debt free? Have you ever heard that there is a connection between man being free from sin and being free from economic debt?
My guess is probably never. But, you should have.
Debt is a form of slavery or indentured servitude. When a man is in debt a portion of everything he makes does not belong to him, it belongs to those he owes an economic debt to. Every debt is the mortgaging of a man’s future in part to another. A man in debt is not a free man. There are two aspects to debt: the lender and the debtor. In general, there is nothing wrong with short-term debt, nor is there anything wrong with short-term lending. Leviticus 25 covers the Biblical commandments regarding short-term loans and debt that are to be limited to 6 years, but all debts and loans were to be terminated in the seventh year.
The amazing aspect to this was that individuals, families, and the society as a whole were to live in terms of living as free men. No one was to live a life in perpetual debt or servitude to another, and no one was to use loans and debt to oppress his fellow man. This would make for an independent and free people and for a society where men saw each other as equals under God worthy of respect and honor.
Nehemiah assisted in the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem and in particular the reformation of the people of God, a return to their faith and obedience to God. One of the primary sins of the people was that half of them were in debt to others to such an extent that they could never climb out and were resigned to a lifetime of servitude, and the other half were those that held the fellow men in perpetual debt and were more than content to do so. This was a grievous evil that should not be known among the people of God.
Neither those that are in a position to give a loan unto another or those in need of a loan are permitted to abuse the other.
Ephesians 4:28 gives counsel that the people of God are to live lives of integrity and honesty, in the realm of business in particular. These same men were to be ready to give unto others as they have need. This could be charity, or it could be a loan to another. The main point being that new life in man creates a hardworking man that is not only financially prosperous enough to care for his own needs but could also be in a position to help others. This is an image of a free man. A man who uses his wealth not only to provide for his own, but also to be a help to others.
Romans 13:8 gives the command that the people of God are to live a life free from debt to his fellow man. His only debt should be his debt and duty to love his neighbor, and love is the keeping of the commandments to God. Our fellow man according to scripture holds us in debt, and this debt is daily repaid as we keep the commandments of God in relation to them.
In Deuteronomy 28 we have God telling His people that if they obey Him and keep His commandments that they will be blessed in their deed. They would be the head and not the tail in relation to all those around them. They would be in a position to be the lender to others and not be the borrower. In short, the image of God’s people is a blessed people. The image of God’s people is a free people. The image of God’s people is a debt free people. The image of God’s people is a benevolent people that helps and cares for the needs of others.
Does any of this sound like it is a description of you? Are you are free man or a debtor? Are you a benevolent person that cares for others or an oppressor of others?
God states that His people are marked by a newness of life. This new life extends into every area of life of His people.
Are you free of debt, then ensure you stay out of it and remain a free man under God. Are you in debt, then ensure that you resolve today to climb out of debt one step at a time until you finally can breathe the fresh air of financial freedom! Do you have children, then ensure that you teach them the importance of diligent labor, savings, frugality in spending, and the importance of living without debt.
Having faith is more than a verbal profession of faith, it is a life lived in faith and obedience to God.
Writer’s Note:
Many that read this may believe it impossible to live in our current society where taxes exceed 50% of a man’s income in general. God’s people do not live in a perfect world, but that does not mean that it is impossible to live as God would have us live, victorious overcomers of all obstacles through obedience to God and with His blessing upon us. It is this writers position that all long-term debt which exceeds 6 years is fully and completely avoidable with two exceptions: the purchasing of a home and the starting of a business and purchase of property.
Even with a potential home loan and business loan that may exceed that of 6 years it is still possible to pay such loans back within 6 years or potentially close to 6 years. While not perfect this can still be done with only 50% of one’s actual earnings due to government confiscation.
Christians can be the head and not the tail as God declares they can become, the reason why the people of God are not seen in such a light is because they have failed to obey God, and before they can be what God wants them to be they must first return to God and surrender every area of life to Him and live in terms of His Word and Law.
Rev. Jeremy Walker is a Christian minister and educator who has been working with his wife of 20 years to operate a successful Christian preschool that has ministered to thousands of children and families. Rev. Walker and his wife Abigail have 11 children ages 3 to 18 and have worked together to raise, educate, and apprentice their children while ministering to the children of the community.
Rev. Walker is a Christian education and entrepreneur advocate who seeks to inspire, equip, and train young men and women to become the next generation of Christian teachers, to own and operate Christian schools, and to become financially independent and to live without debt.
In addition, Rev. Walker has created a Christian internet radio station CR101 Radio, a Christian podcast network, and is the host of a number of podcasts that cover various topics related to Christian doctrine, the family, and society. His hope is that other Christians will get inspired, get equipped, and get involved in the work of the great commission.